Simulation Session and Certificate Handover of the 6th Intake of the Parliamentary Centre of Asia (PCAsia) Programme on Parliamentary Diplomacy (PPD)
Phnom Penh, 9 July 2024
After three weeks of training of Modules 1 and 2, the PPD simulation session (Module3), took place from 9 to 11 July 2024. It brought all 15 trainees from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and AIPA Secretariat to Phnom Penh to work together with Programme Director Professor Michel FOUCHER and the Deputy Director of Programme, Mr Mario Pandu DEWONO.
On the first day of the simulation session, trainees delivered their presentations describing the positions of their respective countries on some key regional issues, and received feedback from Professor FOUCHER and Mr DEWONO. On the second day, the trainees worked with their compatriots in a role-play as delegations attending the AIPA General Assembly, and where they drafted a resolution under the theme of Inclusive Growth. Afterward, they were invited to present their draft resolution and Professor FOUCHER, Mr DEWONO and other delegations had the chance to comment on it.
On the last day, the trainees (i.e. delegations of AIPA Member Parliaments) engaged with the other delegations in negotiations to advance their country positions in the draft resolution. The last session of the training saw the seven draft resolutions consolidated into one resolution which reflected the regional dimension, negotiation process and compromises reached by the delegations.
Finally, a certificate handover was commenced in order to recognise and congratulate all the trainees for their commitment and hard work to successfully complete the training. The certificates were awarded by the Professor Michel FOUCHER, former Ambassador and PPD Programme Director. In his remarks, Prof. FOUCHER expressed how he was impressed by the fact that the parliamentary staff participating in the 6th intake of the training programme had been so actively and proactively engaged, in the exchange of knowledge and working experiences with their peers. Consistently, the aim of the PCAsia-PPD is to provide trainees with knowledge, skillsets, and techniques that enable them to better support their Parliamentarians in their increasing role in international/foreign affairs.
